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Reviewed: 29 January 2011
Excellent colour reproduction,
black levels
3D
crosstalk, some motion trailing
Samsung have been strangely coy in promoting the talents of their 3D enabled C750, preferring to place more emphasis on their C9000, C8000 and C7000 series. With a cut price entry point into the world of extra dimensional delights however, the 40in and 46in C750 deserves as much consideration as its high end counterparts.
Design
Samsung are gaining a well deserved reputation as the creators of uniquely stylish flat panel TVs. With clever use of materials, the LE40C750 demonstrates that even mid level screens can have a considerable visual impact.
A form of transparent plastic, almost indistinguishable from glass, gives the outer edge of the TV bezel a unique appearance. The four pronged solid chromed stand, is actually plastic, but demonstrates how a little attention to detail and material can pay big dividends.
A gloss black finish completes the look and feel of a TV which could actually pass for something much more expensive.
3D
With the widespread availability of products from a number of the big manufacturers, 3D is now a reality in UK homes. Samsung not only offer a true 3D experience based on 'active shutter' technology, they also provide a kind of pseudo 2D to 3D experience on the fly. Hit the 3D button on the remote while you are watching normal TV and you get Samsung's take on 2D-3D conversion.
To enable the screen to respond fast enough to the active shutter 3D system, Samsung has developed faster crystal address technology along with blank frame technology to effect a smoother screen and glasses sync. The C750 also gets 200Hz Motion Plus, in part to handle the requirements of the active shutter 3D system.
It is worth remembering that 3D technology has moved on from the red and blue cardboard glasses you may have had some experience with at the cinema (or Channel 4's recent 3D week). This is an all new experience bringing a new advanced form of 3D into the living room.
Special 'active shutter' glasses are a prerequisite for 3D viewing and unfortunately Samsung are not bundling in any with the C750. Although we were told that the 3D specs would retail for £100, we are starting to see them through various outlets for much less. Samsung has indicated that only its glasses will work with its TVs.
If you would like to find out more about 3D TV you might like to read our 3D TV, Cinema & Gaming Guide.
Features
As part of their entry level series of 3D enabled LCD TVs, the C750 loses LED backlighting. With various implementations of the backlighting technology receiving mixed reviews, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Screen: 40in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: na Other Features: 3D, 200Hz Motion Plus, Freeview HD, Internet@TV, DLNA (AllShare), Anynet +, Wi-fi ready. Sockets: 4 HDMI (v1.4), SCART (RGB), 2 USB, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, Ethernet.
The LE40C750 gets a built-in Freeview HD tuner for access to subscription free High definition programmes direct through an existing aerial.
Freeview HD services are currently being rolled out across the UK, so it is important to check via Freeview whether they are available in your area.
Along with other manufacturers, Samsung have recognized the growing importance of the TV as an entertainment hub, principally for the presentation of different types of digital media.
The 'Internet' button on the C750's remote takes you directly to Samsung's now familiar Internet@TV service while the 'Content' button allows you to choose between Internet@TV, Media Play or DLNA (AllShare).
In fact, the C750 carries an updated version of Samsung's Internet@TV web portal. Hit the 'Internet' button on the remote and you get an improved interface giving access to the likes of BBC iPlayer, LoveFilm, Twitter, the Picasa online photo album site and YouTube.
The 'Media Play' option presents a seamless interface for the presentation of media files via USB.
You can play MP3 music files, display JPEG photos and play DivX, DivX HD (MKV), MP4, MPEG, WMV and WMV HD (pictures only, no audio) video files.
The C750 is DLNA complaint meaning that you can hook up the TV with your PC via an Ethernet connection (or an optional Wi-fi dongle) to stream various multimedia files; an inconvenience to achieve this however is the requirement to load up 'All-share' proprietary software.
Elsewhere, there are 4 HDMI inputs, 2 Scart sockets, 2 USB ports, composite video input, component video inputs, Ethernet, VGA PC input amd RF aerial input.
Performance
Getting things of to an excellent start, the C750's Black Level ability is an indication that the LE40C750 might offer something more than we would expect from a mid range LCD TV.
Once again placing a question mark alongside the effectiveness of LED backlighting, the C750 reveals no hint of greyness, just deep luscious inky jet blacks.
Results are just as impressive in brightly lit rooms. Unlike a number of other screens we have come across, ambient light does not seep through the screen to produce those tell tale grey areas.
Although the C750 lacks the subtle graduations of detail across darker scenes you get from the best Plasma or LCD TVs, there is as much detail in shadowy areas as we have seen from an LCD TV for this price level. Disappointingly, 'Dark Tone' settings which are designed to enhance detail across darker scenes were ineffectual.
Taking advantage of the deep black backdrop, the LE40C750 puts in a supremely accomplished Colour performance. Not many manufacturers can match this level of colour vibrancy while avoiding the trap of producing an over saturated palette. The accuracy of colours is immediately apparent along with the subtlety with which these colours are blended to create wholly realistic complex scenes.
However, the level of accuracy when it comes to colour can only really be achieved by some time consuming tweaking of the rather complicated set of colour adjustment options. To get colour spot on for different scenarios required constant re-tweaking which very quickly becomes a chore.
3D enabled LCD TVs from Samsung have so far demonstrated an ability to convert aspects of a good 2D performance onto the extra dimensional stage. The C750 is no different, displaying a pleasing ability to create bright and colourful on screen 3D images which retain most of the accuracy and shadow detailing from 2D.
In terms of the naturalness of images, the Samsung LE40C740 is as good as its rival plasma counterparts when it comes to 3D.
Of course, LCD TVs have quickly developed a reputation for one main disadvantage when it comes to the display of extra dimensional material - 'crosstalk'. Cross talk is the undesirable 'ghosting' effect of a 3D image frame destined for either the right or left eye lingering to interfere with the next frame to the opposite eye.
While Samsung's improved 'response' circuitry, dedicated to tweaking the C750's refresh rate has paid dividends, an element of visible crosstalk remains. LCD TVs are still at a disadvantage to their plasma counterparts in terms of 3D performance in this respect.
As demonstrated by previous 3D enabled LCD TVs from Samsung, their pseudo 2D to 3D conversion is at best a little hit and miss and if we are honest, rather pointless. Samsung have given us a glimpse of what 2D-3D conversion is all about, but on this evidence it will need further refinement before it approaches a level of sophistication which will see viewers using the function on a regular basis.
No one is under the illusion that 3D TV is the finished article and many will still view the technology as a passing fad; what almost everyone concludes however after experiencing 3D on the Samsung C750 is that this is a genuine and worthwhile implementation of the technology.
The Standard Definition picture processing demonstrated the overall capability and subtlety of Samsung's upscaling circuitry.
While the majority of budget LCD TVs demonstrate that pin sharp, over processed look, the C750 produces something altogether more accomplished.
The great achievement of the LE40C750's standard definition performance is that it produces pictures which are virtually free from the 'jaggedness' we so often find in other LCD TVs. While the images produced are undoubtedly a little 'softer' than you would expect, we believe that Samsung have struck the perfect compromise.
As we expected, High Definition performance from the Full HD resolution screen is excellent. What is more surprising is that the performance in this respect is on a par with much more expensive screens.
The C750 is notable in that a relatively inexpensive screen can provide the kind of jaw dropping HD picture that provides that fully immersive experience. Close up shots reveal the true ability of this screen with every nuance of detail pin sharp and presented in gloriously vibrant colour.
We have always thought that Samsung's implementation of increased frame rate technology (100Hz, 200Hz etc) actually appears to have a worthwhile effect on the presentation of faster on screen action. Disappointed by other manufacturer's implementations of 100Hz/200Hz, Samsung's motion plus system can reduce 'blurring' quite significantly.
Motion Plus is not perfect however, leaving motion trails with faster on screen action and the occasional instance of frame skipping giving that tell tale stuttering effect to screen content.
Once again we are left a little under whelmed by the Acoustic performance of a flat panel TV.
Most manufacturers offer a dizzying array of sound presets, but none can mask the fact that hidden speakers don't have the power to create a truly convincing sound stage.
To be fair to Samsung, most other manufacturers have adopted the same approach i.e. the sacrifice of some acoustic ability for the sake of style. As with most screens, top end bass is the main complaint although this lack of power does not impinge on the everyday enjoyment of the TV.
Conclusion
As a budget introduction to 3D, the LE40C750 makes a lot of sense. Its not perfect, but good enough to give consumers a taste of what the extra dimensional experience is all about and more. The real value of this TV however, lies in an excellent 2D performance at a reasonable price; put the two elements together and you have what in our opinion is a very appealing option.
Excellent
colour reproduction, black levels
3D
crosstalk, some motion trailing
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